Feeling Lovey Dovey

Good Thursday to you readers!

Today I woke up feeling a little sentimental.

Allow me to explain with pictures...

This is Mike and I chowing down on a batch of oatmeal cookies.

We got bored with the baking idea and decided to eat all the dough while watching Parks and Recreation.

I thought that this would be a super cute picture, but I accidentally wrote 

"i love you" 

upside down...oops!

I think that this picture of our hands turned out much much better.

Needless to say, I cannot wait to marry this guy.

*check back in tomorrow for a sneak peek at my wedding bouquet*

Create Something Today

Photo Post

Smile for the camera! diy

This post is all about pictures. 

My friends and family will tell you that I love Love LOVE taking pictures! I must have hundreds on my computer and each one holds a special memory....

Here's a cute way to frame your pictures with paper. 

(click the image for instructions)

Another cute way to display your photos... Use vintage wooden spools!

What You’ll Need:

1. Camera
2. Printer (or have your pictures printed at a copy center)
3. 8.5″ x 11″ labels
4. Scissors
5. A Canvas of your choosing
6. Paint

How-To:

Step 1: Take a picture in profile
Step 2: Print profile picture on an 8.5” x 11” label (Available at office supply stores)
Step 3: Cut out the profile using fine tip scissors. Be sure to catch all of the details!
Step 4: Remove the backing of the label and apply the outer part of the label to a canvas. I had
pre-painted mine with a chocolate brown paint and let dry overnight.
Step 5: Using the label as a stencil, fill in the negative space with paint that contrasts the base
canvas color.
Step 6: Remove the ‘label stencil’ and let dry.
Step 7: Touch up the edges of the profile with base color of paint if needed.

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I hope you all have a lovely Friday and great weekend!

Ooodles and Ooodles of Doodles

Since my last post...

I've gone back to work at the daycare (part time). 

I'm so happy to be back with all the kids. I really missed them a bunch!

I've been a busy little bee crafting away as well. I've been crocheting flowers pins like there's no tomorrow. (you can find those in the shop by Monday)

In addition to going back to work and crocheting away a storm (and catching a cold from the kids) I've also been doodling away!

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Before (I think this is my favorite one...)

After!

Maybe this last one will be my new logo or featured in a new banner.

What's next on my list? These!

Stay tunned for the upcoming tutorials!

What an hour and a half can do...

To this picture...

Before....

After!

I think it was worth all that time on picnik.com...

Our Engagement Story

The Monday right after Christmas, Mike took me on our best date ever. 

We went ice-skating. I know that may sound rather simple to some girls who always picture themselves going out to dinner at a nice place, then some other random activity...but I find joy in the smallest and simplest of things.

Ice-skating is one of them. In fact...it's just about my favorite thing ever!

So we went ice-skating, and have a lovely time except for the part where I landed on my knee...on the ice...ouch...

Mike was taking a bunch of pictures which is rather unusual for him because he's rather camera shy. After about an hour and a half of holding hands while gliding across the ice, we decided it was time to go. 

We took off our skates and left the rink to wait for our ride outside. Mike spotted a bench not too far off so we braved the knee deep snow and the cold as we climbed up to the bench. 

A pile of snow has made the bench it's home, but that was no obstacle for Mike and his gloves. We sat, chatting a bit, for a few minutes when Mike began telling me how much he loved me. He made a sweet speech and reached into his pocket as he knelt down in front on me (in the snow)!

Then he pulled out the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen and ask me to marry him. I started crying and don't even remember if I was able to blubber out "yes".

We quickly took a few pictures and afterwards he picked me up and twirled me around like a little girl. 

It was so perfect, and I'm pretty sure I was still glowing the next day!

Current plans are to set the date in the summer of 2012!!!!

If it was as easy as taking a picture and...

Editing it....

Would I change what I look like?

Would YOU change what you look like?

We live in a world where looks are just about everything. Of course I understand the importance of a first impression, but why do I value what people think of me so much?

Isn't it enough that I'm creative, funny, adventurous, silly, smart (to a degree), and have so much love to give? Why do I feel like I have to make people like my outside before they'll even take the time to see my inside?

If I could the way I looked in an instant...would that change who I am inside? As much as I want the inside to shine brighter than my outside, I ask myself; does my appearance affect my character? Does it affect who I am?

I think it does. If I think that I look great, then I'll act more confident. If I know I look terrible, then I tend to stare at the ground as I walk and mumble around. So yes, my outside does affect my inside.

So if I could magically change all my "flaws", would that change me?

I would like to think that erasing all my flaws and drawing in new physical attributes in their place would make me reach every goal I've ever dreamed. I would imagine becoming the girl I've always wanted to be... But then again...

Would I become proud and walk past my dear friends because I can do better? Would I lose everything I've gained going through the experience of being mocked for my looks in school? Would all those quirks that Mike falls for still be there?

I don't think so. If I'm going to change, I want it to be a very long and gradual change. I want to grow with my changes. If they would happen all at once, I feel as though I would lose who I am. I would be this other pretty girl, but the rest of me would be gone. I would feel empty.

All those flaws and quirks are characteristics that my friends and family know and love me by.

So no...I will not entertain the idea any longer. As I grow as a person on the inside, so will my outside change accordingly. (Perhaps not as I would like best, but maybe its the best for me.)

I will love the way I look, just like my boyfriend, friends, and family do now.

Wrapping Presents!

It's almost Christmas! Are all of your gifts wrapped and under the tree? No!?

Thats OK cause I've rounded up a bunch of tutorials, videos, and ideas on how to make your gift just as special on the outside as it is on the inside. 

First Up is the paper....

You don't need to use traditional wrapping paper if you don't want to. Here are a few ways to get creative!

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I also found a video series with step by step instructions on gift wrapping with newspaper. Go ahead and click on the tapes to watch.

Now...What about the bows? Or maybe you just wanna go with a creative topper for your gift... 

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I also found a few videos on how to make a bow to top off your gift. Check them out!

How to make a curly bow

How to make a twisty-tie pom-pom gift topper

How to make a traditional bow

How to make a missyellowshoes bow 

(this is mine!)

Don't forget that you don't neeeeed to tie up your gift with ribbon! You can also use yarn, twine, thread, or whatever else you feel like!

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One year, I wrapped all my gifts like this...

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I once collected stamps (not that what I have is ever going to be worth anything) so I wrapped all my gifts in brown paper. Then I made up fake addresses with the recipients name on it. After gluing on the old stamps I used a pen and markers to make the stamps and symbols that the post office makes when you mail a letter or package. I also wrapped some of the boxes with twine and yarn. 

Needless to say...they looked awesome!

Hopefully this post has inspired and helped you out a little bit. If you need a little more I made another video about the gifts that I've wrapped so far. You can see that here. (and if you really need help on the basics of gift wrapping check out this video here) 

I'll leave you with this cute picture I found while browsing the internet for gift wrapping ideas....

(Mike this is for you)

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